8 days Basel, Lausanne, Wengen, Lucerne in October

  • Removed user
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    5 September 2019 at 15:34:41 #823753

    My husband and I are going to Switzerland for 9 days in early October. I’m trying to figure out the best way to see as much as possible of this beautiful country.

    We are young active couple traveling without kids. We like big beautiful cities, enjoy small towns ( not necessary villages), the outdoors, and as I said we are active- so hiking would be great as well. For transportation We are planning to buy 8 days consecutive Swiss Pass

    Dates of Travel Arriving October 3 9AM- Leaving October 11th 3PM

    Tentative Plan:

    Flying into Zurich October 3 at 9 AM taking train to Basel

    1.October 3-5 Basel

    Train to Lausanne

    2.October 5-7- staying in Lausanne, visiting Lake Geneva, Chateau de Chillon Castle and Geneva

    Train to Wengen

    3. October 7-9 Wengen Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn

    Train to Lucerne

    4.October 9 Lucerne- Trip to Mt Rigi or Pilatus (which would you recommend?) and would love to visit Berne

    Train to Zurich

    5. October 10-11 Zurich

    October 11 flying back home at 3PM

    Or would it be better to flip my itinerary, starting with Lucerne because of the time of year we are traveling?

    What is the best way to see all these sites

    Thank you very much

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    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    6 September 2019 at 6:37:55 #921748

    Hi Svetochka,

    Welcome to MySwissAlps! Early October still is a (potentially) very nice time weather wise, so your order is fine. I would perhaps consider to remove one day from Basel and add it to Lucerne. Basel is not in or near the mountains but it’s a wonderful city. You have plenty of time to explore in the afternoon of October 3 and most of October 4: http://www.myswissalps.com/ba sel. However if you want to thoroughly explore the museums then you need more time.

    Mount Rigi and Pilatus are both great in their own way. If want some hiking on the mountain then Rigi is best, if you want a more spectacular trip up, then Pilatus is better. Please find details here:

    More about the areas, activities and hotel suggestions:

    All Swiss Travel Pass details (where it’s valid, how it works, where to buy) are here: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    6 September 2019 at 18:11:49 #921749

    Hi Svetochhka –

    I keep trying to parse your screen name. I see Russian pieces in it. However, just my personal habit, and it is not relevant or important, except that if you are coming from the USA or Asia, you might have more jet-lag to deal with, compared to coming from eastern Europe.

    I go with Arno. For some reason that I can’t figure out, Basel has never charmed me. I feel like I’m in Germany, not Switzerland, when I am there. If I want to go to a German city, I’d go to Germany. 😉

    However, for me, the Beyeler is worth a trip to Basel al by itself. And, as Arno noted, the city is known for its museums.

    With my own biases, I’d not even bother to go there on a short trip, but any specific reasosns would overcome my general reluctance.

    To insure good weather, I’d consider adding time in the Jungfrau region, if you do make changes. Bern is less than one hour from InterlakenOst , twice per hour at xx00 and xx30 tyhroughout most of the day.

    It is also easy to reach from Luzern, with route options that incudle fast or scenic ( the latter via Langnau i.E. goes through nice parts of the Emmental.

    Slowpoke

    http://www.fondationbeyeler.c h/en/

    When in Lausanne, you might enjoy the Olympic Museum, and a walk in he vineyards to the east:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/hi king/lutry-epesses

    I think you will be there after the harvest, but it is still a nice experience.

    Slowpoke

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    6 September 2019 at 20:57:58 #921750

    Thank you very much Arno and Slowpoke for your quick responses.

    Basel was highly recommended by friends because of multiple museums and so called “cultural mecca of Switzerland” , I think we will reconsider the number of nights we are planning to stay there and adding one to Lucerne. Looking at our itinerary do you think we are making a lot of unnecessary changes in cities we are staying, or is it a good plan? Also do you think we should start with Lucerne and go backwards on our list? We are coming from eastern USA.

    Is it better to say in Lausanne or Montreux

    And Wengen vs Interlaken

    we are very excited and want to see and experience as much as possible of Switzerland!

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    6 September 2019 at 21:53:14 #921751

    Hi Svetochka –

    Wengen vs. Interlaken

    Please check the relevant comments in this thread:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/bernese-oberland-in-late-october

    Also, see notes on this page:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion

    Since you are traveling in early October, you will have less issue with things being closed for off-season in the alpine villages than the poster looking at late October.

    If i were setting up the trip, I’d put the BO region first, because it is nearing the end of the season there, and the weather, though likely OK, worsens as October progresses.

    Your proposed route(s) make sense from a logistics perspective with a circular route, but, since distances in Switzerland are small, and trains frequent, it is not really critical do do that. And, the train rides are nice.

    use the timetable to sort out times for trips and frequency of trains:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

    Basel/culture.

    We all agree on the excellent museums. I noted the Beyeler, worth the journey.

    However, Luzern has the Rosengart collection – world class- Picassos and Klees and the KKL.

    http://www.rosengart.ch/en/Mu seum/The-Collection

    Zürich is no slouch for good museums, either, such as the Rietberg.

    And, Reinhardt’s Römerholz in Winterthur is just a short train ride from Zürich.

    http://www.roemerholz.ch/sor/ de/home.html

    My own perspective is that there are many wonder, powerful museums around he world. Tough to beat the Metropolitan in Manhattan. Switzerland certainly has more than its share. Here’s the way I view a first trip to Switzerland. I personally go to Switzerland for scenery, ambience, food, photography, and fit in the museums on my trips when ever I can, and not on my first few trips. I look for uniquely Swiss things. There are not many Swiss Alps elsewhere else in the world, and, in fact, only one Jungfrau. The old towns are genuine, and were not rebuilt from destroyed remains after WWII. I like the Emmental countryside, not usually on anyone’s first trip. There are inns there dating from the 1300’s. Images of the Emmental attached. Not found anywhere else but Switzerland.

    So, I may have a different view than you or your friends, and I certainly don’t claim that my way is the right way. Everyone’s perspective is different. If , for example, you are an artist, you might build an entire trip around the museums.

    You picked good places to go, there will be more to do than you can manage, and you’ll enjoy it. you can pick up great museums in Basel, Luzern and Zürich. You go to the Jungfrau Region for scenery and ambience.

    You may find this bit of light reading to be useful. Some links are obsolete, but it is a very good guide:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/tips-about-wengen-and-the-jungfrau-region-by-kim

    By the way, when I am in the region, I stay in Wengen.

    Slowpoke.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    7 September 2019 at 3:07:42 #921752

    Hello again,

    Thank you for taking time helping us with this trip, I really appreciate it.

    it looks like you just convinced me to change our plans a little. May be leaving Basil for the very end of our trip or removing it completely from our itinerary with hope to see it next time we are in Switzerland.

    So if we change the trip a little:

    October 3-5 Zurich to Lucerne (Trip to Mt Rigi or Pilatus (which would you recommend?) visiting Berne.

    or do you recommend starting the trip with BO region first? Like you said I was just trying to be logical in my route but happy to hear your advice.

    October 3-5 Wengen (or should we add another night there?) visiting the Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn. Some hiking there seems to be a great idea which trail would you recommend ?

    Also we would like to use some time on the Glacier Express, just a bit confusing with regards to our itinerary and early October which leg of the route would you recommend, we would like to travel only a part of the route. Or would you recommend other Panoramic Trains?

    Svetochka

    Annika
    Moderator
    7104 posts
    7 September 2019 at 6:50:02 #921753

    Hi Svetochka!

    Yes, I think your itinerary certainly makes sense. Here’s some inpunt:

    Please find accommodation tips at

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    7 September 2019 at 7:45:44 #921754

    <<“They’re absolutely splendid. And you’ll be covering part of the Golden Pass route when traveling from Lucerne to Wengen: http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass. “>>

    Hi Annika – Indeed, even more, since on the proposed itinerary they will travel between Lausanne ( or Montreux) and Wengen. If the choose to take the slower scenic route, rather than go through Bern, they will ride on the most scenic ( in my opinion) part of the Golden Pass routes, from Montreux up to Montbovon and Zweisimmen.

    Slowpoke

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    7 September 2019 at 7:49:48 #921755

    Hi Svetohka –

    <<” October 3-5 Zurich to Lucerne (Trip to Mt Rigi or Pilatus (which would you recommend?) visiting Berne.

    or do you recommend starting the trip with BO region first? Like you said I was just trying to be logical in my route but happy to hear your advice.”>>

    Doesn’t matter very much. You are still early enough in October that the BO is likely to be just fine. What I mentioned is just part of my general habit and patterns when i travel in the Fall in Switzerland. Once you develop a habit, it become automatic, even when it doesn’t really matter.

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    8 September 2019 at 21:45:41 #921756

    Thank you Annika, so if we will follow our original itinerary only removing Basel from it, would you recommend to add one night to Wengen and one night to Lucerne?

    Thank you again,

    Svetochka

    Removed user
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    8 September 2019 at 21:51:29 #921757

    Hi Slowpoke,

    Thank you for your continuous help!!!

    Can you explain please, I am not very clear on which train/route should we take from Lausanne to Wengen to experience part of the Golden Pass route?

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    8 September 2019 at 22:08:32 #921758

    Hi Svetochka –

    Here is the overview, in the reverse direction from what you would do.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass

    In detail , you would take this route –

    Lausanne-> Montreux. Change. Start Golden Pass route.

    Montreux ->Montbovon-Chateau d’oex->Zweisimmen. Change.

    Zweisimmen -> Spiez-> Interlaken Ost. Get off Golden Pass route.

    (GP route continues to Luzern via Meiringen and Sarnen,)

    Change to narrow gauge mountain rail line.

    IO to Lauterbrunnen. Change.

    Lauterbrunnen to Wengen. Cograil. Sit on the right and look out as you come into Wengen. On a clear day, you will see the attached image.

    There might be a change at Spiez, but, I think that on the Golden Pass trains, they go straight through to IO.

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    8 September 2019 at 22:15:30 #921759

    Wow, you are so helpful! THANK YOU Slowpoke.

    So you think that appropriate pass for us would be 8 days consecutive Swiss Pass, right?

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    8 September 2019 at 22:18:52 #921760

    By the way…the picture is breathtaking

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    8 September 2019 at 22:27:52 #921761

    I don’t give advice on rail passes. The forum moderators know a lot more about them than I do. I’ll offer my opinion that that would be a reasonable option.

    Slowpoke

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    8 September 2019 at 22:28:57 #921762

    Hope for clear weather…not uncommon when you are going.

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    9 September 2019 at 6:44:39 #921763

    Hello Svetochka,

    Normally the Swiss Travel Pass is the best and above all most comfortable way to cover larger parts of Switzerland, as you’re planning to.

    For a step by step instruction on how to best choose your rail pass use below link. You’ll also find a very helpful spreadsheet for detailed calculations there:
    http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass

    See details of the Swiss Travel Pass below, especially make sure to check the validity map in the “Where it’s valid” section.
    http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass

    Best,
    Steph

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    9 September 2019 at 20:36:08 #921764

    Thank you Steph, the variety of Swiss passes just simply enormous.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    9 September 2019 at 20:44:16 #921765

    …another question, if weather will not be favorable to go on Jungfrau while we are in Wengen , what other options we have there? Unfortunately we will not be brining with us proper hiking gear for hike across the glacier.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    10 September 2019 at 7:30:17 #921766

    Check this link, and the following one which is included within the first one:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/be rneseoberland

    http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion

    If the weather is bad, you’d not want to be hiking across a glacier, any way.

    Bern (https://www.myswissalp s.com/bern) is close by, and, often the Rhone Valley is sunny, or at least dry, when th erest of Switzeralnd is cloudy or rainy.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/br ig

    http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/bls-sudrampe-trail

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
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    10 September 2019 at 8:45:46 #921767

    Hello Svetochka,

    Yes, the selection is quite wide, the working-out quite a task, but as mentioned before, for an itinerary like yours the Swiss Travel Pass normally offers the best value-for-price balance!

    Regarding activities in the Jungfrau Region maybe this link will also provide some inspiration:
    http://www.myswissalps.com/on edayjungfrauregion

    Best,
    Steph

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